SALT LAKE CITY – Russia continues to fortify its hold as the winner of most gold medals in whining.

The president of the U.S. Olympic Committee fired back yesterday, accusing Russia’s top Olympic official Saturday of waging an “anti-American” crusade in a string of protests over results at the Winter Games.

Vitaly Smirnov, an IOC executive board member, was upset by a poorer-than-expected medals showing by Russian athletes and turned his displeasure to the host country, USOC president Sandy Baldwin said.

After the Russian hockey team lost 3-2 to the United States in Friday’s semifinal game, defenseman Daniil Markov received a gross misconduct penalty for verbally abusing referee Bill McCreary. Markov had to be restrained from going after the veteran NHL official.

After the loss to the U.S., the Russians, who have threatened to pull out of these Olympics, continued their whining.

“They live here,” Russian coach Slava Fetisov said of the officiating, even though several of his players said it was not a factor in the outcome. “They know the players. They’re Canadians, they’re Americans, it’s a human situation.”

Saying that “every games needs a little drama,” Baldwin said the protests from such countries as South Korea and Canada over figure skating, skiing and speedskating were part of the Olympics and helped attract attention around the world.

But the Russian protests, including an aborted threat to pull out of Salt Lake City, were another matter, she said.

“I haven’t felt, except for the Russians, that it was anti-American,” Baldwin said. “That was unfortunate.

“I think we may be seeing a lot of Mr. Smirnov’s feelings about a shift in fortunes of Russian athletes.”

A visibly upset Smirnov denied the accusation.

“It’s not anti-American,” he said. “No! The answer is no! She’s wrong!”

YER OUT

Finland’s Kalle Palander was considered a serious medal contender in yesterday’s men’s slalom. But Palander never completed his first run. Palander lost control crashed in a course volunteer and the two went sprawling.

Palander threw a hissy fit on the course, throwing his poles and gloves. But when asked if the volunteer, Ken Hardy, was too close to the course, Palander was quite gracious.

“No, he was just standing there,” said Palander. “I was going pretty fast.”